Technical Manager
Location: GB, CAM, Huntingdon
Department: Operations
Salary range: 45000-50000
Employment type: Full-time
Required experience: Mid-Senior level
Industry: Food Production
Function: Quality Assurance

Company profile:
Luxury British cocoa grower and chocolatier, Hotel Chocolat, was founded in 2004 to make exciting chocolate with three guiding principles – authenticity, originality and ethics – which remain central to the brand’s success today

Job description:
To own and drive compliance of a safe, legal, quality focused environment to Hotel Chocolat’s required Technical Policies and standards. To challenge and improve manufacturing standards through peer and team structure.Quality Management SystemCreate, implement and maintain a quality system that will ensure accreditation of the sites and deliver a world class standard (initially to a BRC).To ensure, through the team, that the HACCP and due diligence system is maintained and amended as any plant or process changes take place.Establish a robust system to ensure new suppliers and supply are managed to minimise operational disruption.Manage and control all aspects of the Quality System to ensure compliance with all regulatory bodies.Manage NPD/1st Production visibility, attendance at 1st production runs and feedback on performance.Utilise line control systems to focus production teams to ensure compliance with quality standards.Ensure that excellent GMP standards are set, maintained and audited at all times and ensure team approach of continual improvement in system and techniques.To manage external pest control contracts at both production and distribution sites. Host and facilitate all external inspections and/or audits.To ensure micro biological regimes are in place for both product and environment and that the analysis results are used to improve standards. Team ResponsibilitiesPromote, develop, support and engage with a culture of continuous improvement, coach quality staff in production to perform and grow in their roles.In conjunction with the category teams ensure that product development from concept to execution is optimised to ensure operational efficiency.To liase with the Operations Managers to ensure hygiene standards are maintained through the management of the hygiene function.  To create visibility of zone performance on the shop floor in conjunction with Zone Teams. Facilitate cost-effective training, coaching and counselling to maximise employee performance and return on investment.Liaise with the training co-ordinator to identify and deliver training on time and in budget.Be an ambassador for HC both externally (organisations and customers) and internally (management colleagues and staff).In the absence of the Technical Manager the duties will be covered by the Quality Assurance Manager (Hadley Park).Work with the HR team to promote effective and transparent communication with integrity at its core. CostTake an active role in setting annual operational budgets and ensure a control mechanism is in place for the regular review of that budget at a nominal code level. Analyse staffing levels, productivity through a collaborative culture, deliver a cost focused team ethic.Liaise with the training co-ordinator to deliver the training needs on time and to budget.Mange the technical application of the NPD pathway ensuring all launch stage gates are met within set timeframes. Product QualityEnsure 100% compliance with the product specification to deliver product within agreed quality parameters.Effectively communicate and manage any 1st productions, specification changes and concessions.To manage through the team the control of product quality from Concept through to the end of life..Lead customer complaint trending (Internal &amp; External) process to ensure timely and accurate responses are given to customers, utilise trend analysis to focus Process, Packing  &amp; Distribution teams on focus areas for improvement.Responsible for managing shelf life product assessment, validation and continuous product improvement.Technical Support during NPD process including approval of new suppliers, product, process in order to meet Business needs. Continuous ImprovementWork with Operations team to investigate root cause of both customer complaints and internal non conformance (Including concessions) to ensure permanent resolution to ensure no recurrence of issue.Manage supplier performance through robust intake process and Non Conformance system to allow rating of suppliers.Ensure compliance with all health and safety systems and champion a safe working culture and environment.To keep up to date with all relevant food legislation and communicate this as required.Ensure that all reporting procedures and systems are accurate (Complaint Trending, Non Conformance, Quarantine stock) and updated regularly.Chair regular action meetings reviewing GMP outputs and trending to ensure corrective actions have been put in place and are being delivered.

Requirements:
Food Science/Technology Graduate or similar disciplineAdvanced HACCP diploma (Desirable)You MUST have a proven track record of Technical services management within a  food manufacturing environment.(min 4 years Experience)Be a resilient Manager who can instil a positive work ethic into their team.Continued delivery of BRC “A” standardAbility to motivate and develop individuals &amp; teams.Managing teams through KPI’s (Cost, Complaint, Non Conformance, Rework reduction).Concise &amp; effective Communication, Verbal &amp; Written.IT literate – Word, Powerpoint &amp; Excel.Astute commercial acumen.Passion, energy and aspiration in line with Hotel Chocolat brand and core valuesStrong self-awareness, communication, networking and interpersonal skillsAble to identify and drive IT plans in line with overall business strategiesEfficient and well-organised with good administration, planning and organisation skills and ability to prioritise tasksAct with professionalism, discretion and sensitivitySelf-starter with a positive attitudeStrong attention to detailFlexible and willing to travel

Benefits:
This role will have include all benefits currently enjoyed by Hotel Chocolat employees.